Rep. Lim Oh-kyung of the Democratic Party of Korea, who sought to call Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) as reference witnesses for a Korea Football Association hearing, withdrew the request after controversy.
Lim, a member of the Culture. Sports. and Tourism Committee, said on her social networking service (SNS) on the afternoon of the 10th that she withdrew the reference witness request "after comprehensively considering the party's views and the players' match schedules."
She said, "With the view that the Korea Football Association hearing to be held on the 22nd should not become a half-measure hearing that listens to only one side, I requested Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as reference witnesses to hear the voices of active players."
She added, "This was not to burden the players, but a decision to create a better hearing for the development of Korean soccer."
However, after the reference witness request, soccer fans raised concerns that calling Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan to a National Assembly hearing was inappropriate. They cited the need for recovery from fatigue after the World Cup and preparation for the next season.
In particular, after news spread that Lim, a former national handball team member, had requested active soccer players as hearing reference witnesses, criticism also emerged in politics. Rep. Jin Jong-oh of the People Power Party, a former Olympic gold medalist in shooting, criticized, saying, "The Democratic Party should not reduce soccer reform to a political show."
Rep. Cheon Ha-ram of the Reform Party also took issue with Lim's decision, saying, "It appears to be an attempt to shift the blame for the World Cup's poor showing onto the conflict between player Son Heung-min and coach Hong Myung-bo to cover up the association's inadequacy and incompetence."
Backlash from soccer fans continued. It was also reported that within the Democratic Party's support base, voices emerged saying that calling active players to the hearing was inappropriate and that the reference witness request should be withdrawn.